On Feb. 20 Vietnam requested consultations with the US, under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement system, after the US introduced anti-dumping measures on certain frozen warm water Vietnamese shrimps.

Under WTO rules, a request for consultations formally initiates a dispute within the WTO. Consultations give both parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and negotiate a satisfactory solution without proceeding further to litigation.

After 60 days, if the consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request a settlement decided by a WTO panel.-VNA